Overcap placer

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for continuously placing overcaps onto upright aerosol cans carried on a conveyer, including a track assembly above the conveyer feeding a line of overcaps gradually toward the top ends of the cans and a pair of timing worms that bring the aerosol can and overcap together in timed relation so that the overcap will be placed in aligned position with the can. A seater belt may also function to press the caps into seated position on the cans.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,872,651 Leonard 1 Mar. 25, 1975 OVERCAP PLACER 3,438,174 4/1969 Foss et a1 53/314 x 3,755,987 9 1973 D1 (1" t'l. 53 30 X [75] Inventor: George E. Leonard, Davenport, me e a 6 Iowa Primary E.\'aminerTravis S. McGehee [73] A gnfi h K rlr g Pak np r Assistant Eraminer-Horace M. Culver Iowa Attorney, Agent, or Fi1711-Lockwood, Dewey, Zickert 221 Filed: Dec. 10, 1973 Alex [21] Appl. N0.: 423,104 [57} ABSTRACT Apparatus for continuously placing overcaps onto up [52] US. Cl. 53/319 right aerosol Cans Carried on a conveyen including a [51] Illl. Cl B65b 7/28, B671) 5/00 track assembly above the conveyer feeding a line of [58] Field of Search 53/313, 314, 307, 315, overcaps gradually toward the top ends of the Cans 53/316 3061 319 and a pair of timing worms that bring the aerosol can and overcap together in timed relation so that the References C'ted overcap will be placed in aligned position with the UNITED STATES PATENTS can. A seater belt may also function to press the caps 2,518,857 8/1950 Bell ..53/315 X into seated position'on the cans. 2,618,425 11/1952 Stover 3,382,646 5/1968 Leudtke et al 53/314 X 14 7 D'awmg Fgures 47 I 66 1 l /7 I I I a y 1 i.

PATENTEB HARZ 51575 SHEET 2 [IF '5 PATENTED MAR 2 519. 5

SHEET l 0F 5 OVERCAP PLACER This invention relates in general to the handling of aerosol cans or containers, and more particularly to an overcapping machine, and still more particularly to an overcap placer in an overcapping machine for placing overcaps onto aerosol cans.

The overcap placer of the present invention is smaller and simpler than heretofore known overcap placers and is capable of providing much higher speeds of overcap or cap placing than heretofore known equipment. While the overcap placer of the invention is principally useful for placing of overcaps on aerosol cans, it should be appreciated that it can be used in other applications, such as placing caps on other cans or containers.

The placer coacts with a conveyer carrying cans along a horizontal line in single file. A feed track assembly above the conveyer gradually guides a cap line downwardly toward the top ends of the cans. The placer includes upper and lower worm arrangement that receive and bring together the overcap and the can in timed relation. An overhead seater belt applies downward pressure to the cap as it moves along the timing worms to place the cap onto the can in seated position. The speed of the timing worms is synchronized with that of the seater belt in order to maintain the cans and caps in upright position as they move through the placer. The speed of the can conveyer is slightly faster than that of the placer. In the event that the cap needs to be oriented rotationally relative to the can, the placer is adjusted to merely position the cap onto the can and not apply a seating pressure to the cap. Thereafter, the cap may be oriented and seated by other mechanisms.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved overcap placer for placing overcaps on aerosol cans and the like.

A further object of the present invention is in the provision of an overcap placer for aerosol cans which includes a pair of timing worms which bring the overcap and can together in timed relation and a seater belt which applies downward'pressure to the cap to seat the overcap onto the can.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an overcap placer which is simple and small in construction and has a relatively small number of parts and which is capable of providing extremely high placing speeds along a conveyer line for the placing of overcaps onto cans and which is easily adjustable for handling different size cans and different size caps.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of an overcapping machi associated with a conveyer line and which includes 'iHEVrEa placer of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a somewhat schematic view of the drive mechanism of the overcap placer;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the overcap placer according to the invention with some parts omitted for purposes of clarity and illustrating the placing and seating of caps onto aerosol cans;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 3 to illustrate the the input end of the placer with some parts omitted for I purposes of clarity; and

FIG. 7 is a greatly enlarged side elevational view of a part of the placer and illustrating particularly the seater belt and with some parts omitted for purposes of clarity.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to the diagrammatic view of the overall overcapping machine shown in FIG. 1, the overcap placer according to the invention is generally designated by the numeral 15 and is shown arranged along a conveyer 16. Generally, the placer 15 receives at its input end a continual supply of aerosol cans 17 in single file and a continuous supply of overcaps or caps 18 in single file for the purpose of bringing the caps and cans together to place a cap on each can. Normally, the placer is considered to assemble a cap on a can by seating the cap within the chime of the can although in some instances it may only be used to loosely place a cap on a can. The cans l7,

when received by the placer 15, have already been filled with a product and a pressurizing gas and inspected for leakage, and therefore readyto receive the overcap and thereafter be packaged in suitable cartons or containers. The conveyer belt 16 is continuously driven by any suitable means for the purpose of continuously feeding cans to the placer.

The supply of caps is provided by an unscrambler 22 which includes an unscrambling hopper 23 having a first compartment 24 and a second compartment 25. Caps are initially dumped into the first compartment 24 in random orientation and then metered to the second compartment 25 which includes a suitable mechanism for unscrambling the caps and delivering them to a discharge conveyer 26 in oriented fashion. The caps are moved along the discharge conveyer 26 in single file through a final inspection and rejection apparatus 27 that positively ascertains each cap to be in properly oriv ented position which is upside down vertical arrangement. The caps are guided from the discharge conveyer 26 onto a transfer conveyer 28 which extends at right angles to the discharge conveyer and then delivered to an inverter 29 (FIG. 3) which inverts the caps degrees so that they are right side up when they enter the placer 15.

In order to protect the placer 15 againstjamming and to also eliminate injury to the cans and caps and to assure that a cap and can unit will always be discharged from the placer. mechanical sensorsare strategically arranged along the cap and conveyer lines. A m'echanical sensor 32 is positioned ahead of the placer and along the cap line and which will stop the placer in the event the supply of caps is exhausted. Similarly, a mechanical sensor 33 is located ahead of the placer in association with the can line to sense the can supply and stop the placer in the event the can supply is exhausted. At the discharge end of the placer, a mechanical sensor 34 is arranged along the conveyer line for sensing a buildup of cans downline from the placer in which even it will stop the placer upon detecting such a buildup. In order to prevent an oversupply of caps from the unscrambler, a mechanical sensor 35 is arranged along the cap line adjacent the transfer conveyer 28 and downline from the inspection and rejection apparatus 27. This sensor detects a buildup of caps and stops the unscrambler in that event.

It will be appreciated the line conveyer 16 will not stop when the placer or unscrambler is stopped but will slide relative the bottoms of the cans stopped in the placer. Confinement of the cans through suitable guide rails prevents tipping of the cans. As best shown in FIG. 6, the conveyer 16 is preferably made of a belt of interconnected sections of rigid plastic, thereby enhancing the cans to be easily slid laterally or otherwise of the conveyer when moving along the conveyer line and especially through the placer. The discharge conveyer 26 and the transfer conveyer 28 are suitably made of a continuous flexible natural or synthetic material in the form of belts. While not shown in FIG. 1, it will be appreciated that suitable guide rails will be provided for guiding the single file movement of the caps and cans.

Following discharge of the can and cap units from the placer 15, they are guided through a final seater 38 which functions to seat any caps that may not have been properly seated in the placer l5. Particularly, radially distorted caps may not be seated by the placer and thereafter may need to be handled by the final seater 38. Further, the final seater 38 will provide the sole seating action where such is not done in the placer. For example, where the cap must be oriented on the can before being seated, the placer would only function to loosely place the cap on the can. Thereafter, an orientation operation would arrange the cap for seating, and the final seater 38 would accomplish the seating.

It will be appreciated that the cooperative arrangement.

between the unscrambler 22, the placer 15, the conveyer 16, and the final seater 38 does not form a part of the present invention. Moreover, the subject matter of the unscrambler and the seater specifically do not form a part of the present invention, but are fully treated as separate inventions in other applications. The present application is concerned only with the overcap placer 15, while appreciating it depends on cap and can feed lines.

The capline coming into the placer is guided by a track assembly 41 arranged at an incline relative to the horizontal plane of the conveyer 16 to gradually bring the caps down toward the cans carried by the conveyer. The input end of the cap track assembly is connected to the output end of the inverter 29 which merely consists of a plurality of opposed side rails 42 and opposed plates 43 arranged arcuately. Accordingly, when the caps reach the input end of the guide track assembly 41, they are in right-side-up position and they are spaced above the cans such that they do not interfere with the movement of the cans or interfere with the upper ends of the cans.

As seen particularly in FIG. 4, the guide track assembly 41 includes a pair of opposed support bars 46 having secured thereto inwardly extending relatively thin ledges or lips 47 upon which slidably ride the caps 18. The caps are maintained in a predetermined cap line by means of an overhead guide plate 48 so that the caps move through a confined path when delivered to the input end of the placer. While the can line at the guide track assembly 41 is slightly offset from the can line, as

seen in FIGS. 4 and 6, such is done only for purposes 7 of enabling an angle drive head to be installed for driving one of the worms. It should be appreciated that this angle drive head is not shown for purposes of clarity.

The caps are gravitationally fed to the placer, and also advanced along the track assembly ahead of the placer by virtue of the head produced by the load of caps backed up in the inverter 29.

The placer 15 includes generally an upper cap worm 51 and a lower can worm 52. The worms 51 and 52 may be more clearly thought of as timing worms inasmuch as they time the movement of the cans and caps to bring them synchronously together at the right time for placing a cap onto a can. The placer additionally includes a seater belt assembly 53 which functions to seat the caps onto the cans. It will be appreciated that in' some instances where it is not desired to seat the cap on the can but merely to place the cap on the can, the seater belt assembly will then be disabled by removing it from the area of movement of the caps as they move through the placer. 1

The details of the driving connections for the worms and the seater belt are not shown for purposes of simplicity and form no particular part of the invention, but it may be appreciated by viewing FIG. 2 that the worms and the seater belt are driven synchronously at the same speed by means of a drive motor 54 through a clutch 55. The drive motor is continuously running, and when it is desired to stop the placer, the clutch 55 is deactivated to stop the worms and the seater belt at the same time. The driving connections between the clutch and the worms and seater belt are shown in phantom in FIG. 2. It should futher be appreciated that the worms are suitably rotatably supported at both ends as illustrated by the support brackets 56 and 57 for the worm 52, as seen in FIG. 3, which are in turn suitably mounted on the framework of the conveyer or the placer. Similarly, the worm 51 is rotatably supported at opposite ends.

It will be appreciated that the worms defined a plurality of equally spaced apart movable pockets for a plurality of caps and cans. The pitch of the cap worm and the pitch of the can worm need not be identical but must be aligned so that the caps and cans are brought synchronously together in the placer. As seen particularly in FIG. 3, inasmuch as the cap worm 51 is axially aligned with the path of the movement of the caps and therefore the guide track 41, the longitudinal axis of this worm in inclined relative to the horizontal. It can also be seen in FIG. 3 that the longitudinal axis of the can worm 52 is horizontal and parallel to the path of movement of the cans and that of the conveyer. Accordingly, the cap worm 51 in inclined relative to the can worm 52. The amount of inclination between the worms is not critical, but it has been found that about a four-degree pitch of the cap worm 51 relative to the horizontal is satisfactory. Inasmuch as the drives of the cap and can worms are synchronized, they will then move the caps and cans together in synchronized relation wherein the caps are gradually brought together with the tops of the can. The caps are gravitationally fed to the cap worm, while the conveyer 16 carries the cans to the can worm.

The timing worms bring the caps and cans together such that the caps are placed squarely on top of the cans. As seen particularly in FIG. 4, each cap includes a generally cylindrical side wall 60, a top end 61 that is generally closed, and a bottom end 62 that is generally open. The side wall of the cap illustrated is somelower ends of the rods 89 bear against the upper surwhat tapered or conically shaped. The upper ends of i the cans include a chime 63 within which the lower edge of the side wall of a cap is seated. Such seated caps are shown at the right-hand end of FIG. 3.

As the caps leave the complete guide track assembly 41 and enter the influence of the cap worm 51, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the support bar 46 and ledge 47 on the side at the cap worm terminates. Continued support of the opposite edge of the cap is still maintained by a continuation of the support bar 46 on the side of the cap line opposite the cap worm as seen particularly in FIGS. 3 and 5. Shortly beyond the inlet end of the cap worm 51, as seen in FIG. 3, an elongated guide plate 65 is provided for supporting the lower edge of the cap at that side and this guide plate is cantileverly mounted at one end and being of a spring steel so that it can move downwardly from the support bar 46 at its free end. The caps leave the influence of the plate 65 near the discharge end of the cap worm and where the support bar 46 meets with a horizontal support bar 66, FIG. 3. Additionally an upper guide bar 67, FIGS. 3 and 5, is provided on the upper side of the support bar 46 to provide guidance to the side wall of the caps and maintain the caps in properly engaging posi tion with the cap worm 51 so that the cap worm positively drives the caps through the placer until the caps are placed onto a can. As also seen in FIG. 7, a thin extension plate 68 extends from the free end of the overhead guide plate 48 and terminates just under the inlet end of the seater belt assembly and at about the same point that the guide plate 65 terminates. The guide bar 67 continues on top of the support bar 66 and terminates about a point three-quarters of the distance of the seater belt assembly from the inlet end where the cap would normally be in seated position.

The seater belt assembly 53 includes an endless seater belt 72 trained about spaced pulleys 73 and 74 respectively carried on rotatably mounted shafts 75 and 76. The seater belt 72, like the transfer conveyer and discharge conveyer belts, may be made of a suitable natural or synthetic flexible material. Theshafts 75 and 76 are carried on a frame 77 as noted particularly in FIG. 7. The inlet end of the seater belt 72 is elevated slightly above the outlet end. This is accomplished by positioning the inlet pulley 73 slightly above the outlet pulley 74.

The lower run of the seater belt 72 includes an inlet section 80 that is at slight incline relative to the horizontal so as to gradually apply a downward force against the caps as they move through the placer and gradually seat the caps on the cans. second section 81 is horizontal or dead level to continually apply a force against the caps at a pointwhere seating action is completed.

The breaking pointbetween the sections 80 and 81 is defined by a guide roller 82 carried on the leading end of a shoe 83 backing the lower run of the belt. The shoe 83 is carried on the lower end of a pair of stop pins 84 extending from the body 85 of a pneumatic loader 86. The pins 84 include a head on their ends which coact with stepped bores formed in the shoe 83 that allow upward movement of the shoe relative to the pins and a limited downward movement of the shoe.

A plurality of air cylinders 87 are formed in the body 85 and receive pistons 88 connected to rods 89. The

face of the shoe 83 and when a source of air pressure is applied to the pneumatic loader through an inlet fitting 90, the air pressure in thecylinders 87 forces the pistons downwardly to apply a downward force on the shoe 83 which in turn applies the force against the inside surface of the lower run of the belt 72. The air pressure to the pneumatic loader may be varied in order to adjust the downward pressure of the shoe 83. A stationary guide roller 91 carried on the end of a bracket 92 mounted on the pneumatic loader body is positioned between the breaking roller 82 and the pulley 73 to maintain a proper angle on the section 80 of the belt run which is between the inlet pulley 73 and the guide roller 82. Preferably, the section 80 is at a four-degree angle relative the horizontal and essentially parallel to the axis of the can line in the track assembly 41, but it should be appreciated that it could be at any desired angle to provide the necessary gradual downward force against the top end of cap during the placing and seating ofa cap onto a can. It may be noted in FIG. 7 that the thin extension plate 68 terminates just under the inlet end of the seater belt 72 Accordingly, it can be appreciated that the seating action of the seater belt 72 accomplishes the seating of the caps onto the cans as they move together through the placer. Moreover, it can be appreciated that avariable pressure can be applied to the shoe 83 depending upon the air loaded to the pneumatic loader. Further, it should be appreciated that the pneumatic loader acts somewhat like a spring in loading the seater belt to apply the desired force against the top ends of the caps.

The seater belt assembly 53, by being mounted on the frame 77, is vertically adjustable inasmuch as it is carried by a pair of rotatable threaded rods or jack screws 95 and 96. These rods engage nut fittings in the frame 77 and are held against vertical movement when rotated by means of mounting brackets 97 and 98 carried on head bracket plate 99. Knobs 100 and 101 are connected to the rods 95 and 96 to facilitate rotation thereof. Additionally, sprockets are provided in connection with the rods 95 and 96 and interconnected by a continuous chain 102 whereby rotation of one of the knobs causes synchronized rotation of the other and therefore synchronized rotation of the rods 95 and 96 to raise and lower both ends of the frame and the seater belt assembly together. While not shown, the entire head bracket plate 99 may be adjustably raised or lowered to handle cans of varying heights.

The upper guide plate 48 is carried by the frame 77 by means ofa support bracket 104 which in turn is connected by means of a bar 105 to another bracket 106 that is secured to the inlet end of the guide plate 48. When it is desired to remove the operation of the seater belt, such as when it is only desired that the caps be placed on top of the cans and not seated, the seater belt assembly may be raised vertically by means of the threaded rods 95 and 96 to a position away from the caps. Further, this adjusting mechanism may be used to adjust the seater belt for handling other sizes of caps.

The worms 51 and 52 are preferably made of suitable plastic material such as nylon or Delrin, and may be easily interchanged for worms in different pitches to handle other diametrical sizes of cans and caps. This facilitates the versatility of this placer.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope 1. Apparatus for placing overcaps onto the tops of aerosol cans which comprises, a conveyer for supporting cans in an upright position and conveying same along a rectilinear path, a first worm and guide rail unit for engaging said cans and spacing same and rotating along the horizontal and parallel to the path of the cans, means moving overcaps along a guide track, a second worm and guide rail unit for engaging said caps and spacing same and rotating along an axis inclined to the horizontal and parallel to the path of the overcaps, said worm and guide rail units being synchronized to bring the overcaps into position on the top of the cans, and means applying a downward force on said overcaps to seat same as they are brought together.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim l, whereinthe first worm engages the cans along one side thereof and the second worm engages the overcaps along one side thereof opposite from the first worm.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said downward force applying means includes an endless seating belt engaging the top ends of the overcaps and positioned above the conveyer.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the seating belt includes a lower run having a first inclined portion and a second horizontal portion.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein means is provided to mount the seating belt for adjusting the position to handle overcaps of various sizes.

6. Apparatus for placing overcaps onto the top ends of aerosol cans which comprises, a conveyer for supporting cans in an upright postion and conveying same along a horizontal path in single file, a can worm and guide rail unit coacting to align and space the cans in timed relation with each other and rotating along the horizontal and parallel to the path of the cans, a track assembly above the conveyer feeding overcaps in upright oriented position toward and in merging relation with th'eafis, afi'b'v'ei'ca worm and guide rail unit coacting to align andspace the overcaps in timed relation with each other, said overcap worm mounted to rotate along an axis inclined to the horizontal and parallel to the path of the overcaps, and means for synchronously driving said wormsto cause the timed placing of overcaps on the cans and movement of overcaps and cans at the same speed as the conveyer.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, and further including a seater belt assembly mounted above the conveyer and at the discharge end of the worms for engaging and applying a downward seating force to the top ends of the overcaps for seating the overcaps on the cans.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein the worm drive means is drivingly connected to the seater belt to drive same synchronously with the worms.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the seater belt asssembly includes an endless seater belt having a lower run with an inclined portion at the inlet end and a horizontal portion at the outlet end.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein force applying means behind the lower run of theseater belt applies a resilient force thereto.

11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said force applying means includes a pneumatic loader.

12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said loader includes a shoe bearing against the backside of the lower belt run and pneumatically powered pistons for applying a pneumaticforce against the shoe.

13. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein means is provided for the seater belt assembly to adjustably position same relative the conveyer to handle overcaps of different sizes.

14. In combination with a moving can line and a moving overcap line positioned above and inclined relative the can line wherein the overcap line moves downwardly and gradually toward the can line, apparatus for placing overcaps from the overcap line on the cans in the can line at the same speed as the moving can line comprising, an upper overcap worm rotating along an axis parallel to the overcap line and coacting with guide means to engage and move the overcaps along in timed and aligned relation to each other, lower can worm rotating along an axis parallel to the can line and coacting with guide means to engage and move the cans along in timed and aligned relation to each other, and means driving the worms in synchronous timed relation such that the overcaps are placed onto the tops of the cans UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTWN PATENT NO. ,872,651

DATED March 25, 1975 |NVENTOR(S) George E. Leonard It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 1, line 21, change "arrangement" to --arrangements--; Col. 2, line 3, change "verticle" to -vertical--;

line 4, after "FIG 3" insert --to-; line 67, change "even" to -event--; Col. 4', line 33, change "futher" to "further"; Col. 5, line 50, before "slight" insert a; C01. 6, line 20, before "cap" insert --the--;

line 23, after "belt 72" insert a period Col. 7, line 35, change "postion" to -position-; and Col. 8, line 39, before "lower" insert -a--.

Signed and sealed this 15th day of July 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer and Trademarks 

1. Apparatus for placing overcaps onto the tops of aerosol cans which comprises, a converyer for supporting cans in an upright position and conveying same along a rectilinear path, a first worm and guide rail unit for engaging said cans and spacing same and rotating along the horizontal and parallel to the path of the cans, means moving overcaps along a guide track, a second worm and guide rail unit for engaging said caps and spacing same and rotating along an axis inclined to the horizontal and parallel to the path of the overcaps, said worm and guide rail units being synchronized to bring the overcaps into position on the top of the cans, and means applying a downward force on said overcaps to seat same as they are brought together.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the first worm engages the cans along one side thereof and the second worm engages the overcaps along one side thereof opposite from the first worm.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said downward force applying means includes and endless seating belt engaging the top ends of the overcaps and positioned above the conveyer.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the seating belt includes a lower run having a first inclined portion and a second horizontal portion.
 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein means is provided to mount the seating belt for adjusting the position to handle overcaps of various sizes.
 6. Apparatus for placing overcaps onto the top ends of aerosol cans which comprises, a conveyer for supporting cans in an upright postion and conveying same along a horizontal path in single file, a can worm and guide rail unit coacting to align and space the cans it timed relation with each other and rotating along the horizontal and parallel to the path of the cans, a track assembly above the conveyer feedings overcaps in upright orienteD position toward and in mergining relation with the cans, an overcap worm and guide rail unit coacting to align and space the overcaps in timed relation with each other, said overcap worm mounted to rotate along an axis inclined to the horizontal and parallel to the path of the overcaps, and means for synchronously driving said worms to cause the timed placing of overcaps on the cans and movement of overcaps and cans at the same speed as the conveyer.
 7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, and further including a seater belt assembly mounted above the converyer and at the discharge end of the worms for engaging and applying a downward seating force to the top ends of the overcaps for seating the overcaps on the cans.
 8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein the worm drive means is drivingly connected to the seater belt to drive same synchronously with the worms.
 9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the seater belt asssembly includes an endless seater belt having a lower run with an inclined portion at the inlet end and a horizontal portion at the outlet end.
 10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein force applying means behind the lower run of the seater belt applies a resilient force thereto.
 11. Apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein said force applying means includes a pneumatic loader.
 12. Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said loader includes a shoe bearing against the backside of the lower belt run and pneumatically powered pistons for applying a pneumatice force against the shoe.
 13. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein means is provided for the seater belt assembly to adjustably position same relative the conveyer to handle overcaps of different sizes.
 14. In combination with a moving can line and a moving overcap line positioned above and inclined relative the can line wherein the overcap line moves downwardly and gradually toward the can line, apparatus for placing overcaps from the overcap line on the cans in the can line at the same speed as the moving can line comprising, an upper overcap worm rotating along an axis parallel to the overcap line and coacting with guide means to engage and move the overcaps along in timed and aligned relation to each other, lower can worm rotating along an axis parallel to the can line and coacting with guide means to engage and move the cans along in timed and aligned relation to each other, and means driving the worms in synchronous timed relation such that the overcaps are placed onto the tops of the cans in aligned relation thereto. 